Tag Archives: 1920s

January 15, 1926 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Balloon Race is Released

“Big Balloon Race – $10,000.00 Prize To The Winner”

On January 15, 1926, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Balloon Race was released to theaters. It was the 28^th Alice Comedy to be produced, and the 12^th to feature second Alice actress Margie Gay.

The short begins with the announcement of a Big Balloon Race, with a $10,000 prize for the winner. A band performs near the sign, drumming up excitement for the race. Alice and Julius are competing in the race against their nemesis Pete, who tells the crowd that Julius is nothing to be concerned with. The balloons set off, although Alice and Julius’ balloon doesn’t immediately take off. Pete tries to cheat and throws Alice and Julius’ balloon to the ground. Julius then has a difficult time getting it to fly, causing a fight between the duo. The pair then spot a hippo with a pipe and a spittoon, and Julius comes up with the idea to use the hippo to get then moving, thanks to the hippo’s sneeze by the use of red hot pepper. The balloon takes off, without Julius, and Alice sends down a ladder to pull him up, but forgets to hold the other end of the ladder, sending Julius tumbling to the ground. He continues to chase after the balloon and uses a rope to get up, but then the pair find themselves caught in a storm. The balloon is destroyed, and the pair fall to the ground, but Julius uses a dachshund and two balloons to send him skyward again, but this also fails. He then tries to use an elephant filled with air, pulled along by a passing bird. Julius then spends his time dodging lightning strikes, but then uses the lightning to deflate Pete’s balloon, which lands on Alice. Pete, angered by both, chases after them.

December 15, 1924 – The Alice Comedy Alice the Piper is Released

On December 15, 1924, the Alice Comedy Alice the Piper was released to theaters. This is the 11^th Alice Comedy released, and features first Alice actress Virginia Davis. Although not considered a lost film, it hasn’t been released on home video. This short film is based on the story The Pied Piper of Hamelin, and features Alice and Julius ridding a town of rats.

November 15, 1928 – The Alice Comedy Alice Rattled by Rats is Released

“Guard the house while I’m gone—“

On November 15, 1928, the Alice Comedy Alice Rattled by Rats was released to theaters. It was the 25^th Alice Comedy released, and the tenth to feature second Alice actress Margie Gay.

The short film begins with Alice packing for a trip and telling Julius to guard the house while she’s gone. Julius waves goodbye and prepares for his duties to guard Alice’s house. As he patrols the house, a couple of rats start causing mischief. Julius tries to shoot the rat, only his gun isn’t working, so he then chases the rat into the house. Julius ends up falling into a barrel of home brewed liquor, and ends up falling down drunk. The rats have taken over the house at this point, playing the piano and dancing into a frenzy. The rats then use household items to create other musical instruments, and use the shower to create a waterslide. Julius is still walking around drunk, unable to stop himself from being abused by the rats. Alice returns home, confused, and Julius finds himself thrown out of the house and into a cactus patch. Julius then tries to get the rats out via a bomb, only the bomb is thrown back at him and Alice, and explodes.